Improvement in tents, awnings



M. R. KUNKEL Y. Tents, Awnings, 81.0.

No. 203,279. Pat ented May 7,1878.

N. PETERS. PHDTQ-UTHDGRAPNER. WASHINGTON, o c.

UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

MAX R. KUNKELY, on NEW YORK, N.

IMPROVEMENT IN TENTS, AWNINGS, 8w.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 203,279, dated May 7', 1878; application filed October 16, 1877.

To all whom it may concern or keys cannot fill up, and said lines, by stretch- Be it known that I, MAX R. KUNKIELY, of ing, gape, thus leaving openings in and bethe city and State of New York, have invented tween the parts for the rain to pass through. certain new and useful Improvements in Tents As the parts are thus united, their laced porand Awnings, 850., of which the following is a tions, in not being stayed, as the sections are, description, referencebeing had tothe accomby the section-ropes, are much weaker than panying drawing, forming part of this specithe sections. These and other defects my infication. vention obviates.

This invention relates to awnings, tents, and Figure 1 represents a view, in perspective, various canvas-covered structures in which the of an oblong wall-tent with the walls omitted, coveris composed of two ormore parts or pieces, and with the top or cover as composed of two united to each other by lacing. halves or ends, forming two parts, and a cen- One of the objects of the invention is to obter-piece in two parts, laced together at the tain a perfect and secure lap, and to do away ridge, all constructed in accordance with my with all opening or gaping between the lacings invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View, upon of the united parts, including the ridges when a larger'scale, of the canvas top in parts,with the invention is applied to a tent, and so precertain portions in section; and Fig. 3 is a secvent water from entering at the junction of tional view of the lap where any two of the the laced parts. parts are laced together.

Another object of the invention is to give A A are the two end parts of the canvas top, increased strength to the top or cover and and a a the sections of which the same are structure to which it is applied. composed, bb being the section-ropes. B B are The invention is more particularly designed the two parts of the center-piece, with which to be applied to tents, and will herein be dethe end parts A A are united by lacing. O G scribed mainly with reference thereto. are the side poles of the tent, and D D quarter It consists in a peculiar lap at the parts of or center poles. the cover which are united by lacing, and in On one edge of each partAB or B B, I add acombination,with the lap, of additional ropes a lap or lapping-piece, S, in which, at some and means for stifiening, supporting, and. selittle distance from its outer edge, I work the curing the cover at opposite ends of its laced usual lacing-holes c. This lap may vary in parts. width, according to the size of the tent. On

Previously to describing the invention as the other edge of each of said parts I stitch a illustrated in the drawing it will be well to strip of canvas, 0?, which may be wider than the observe that tents are usually made in halves, lap, and which, as well as the lap, may be of quarters, and other numbers of parts, accorddouble thickness, and has the keys or lacinging to the size of the tent, and that certain or. lines f united to it, instead of to the part A each of said parts are composed of sections, or B, said lacing-lines coming underneath the permanently stitched or secured to each other, lacing-holes c in the lap when each part of the and bracedbywhatare termed section-ropes. cover is in position relatively to its adjacent These sections lead from the head of the tent part. This forms a lapping of the parts, one down to the foot thereof, or side poles. over the other, and the lacing-line f consti- Heretofore the several parts of the top or tutes a ridge, which prevents water from runcover have had the lacings which unite them -ning under the lap and down into the tent. on the edges of said parts, and the holes which By use of the laps S and arrangement of the lacing-lines, or keys, as they are termed, the lacing-lines as shown and described, the pass through but a short distance from the one edges of the parts A B, for instance, are left edge of each of said parts, while the lacingclear or free for the attachment thereto of lines or keys were on the extreme other edge section-ropes b b, whereby said edges may be of said parts. When the parts as thus conbraced or supported as they have not been structed are laced together, there is an open heretofore, and as the sections a a are braced space in the lacing-holes which the lacing-lines and supported. These additional or edgeropes b b materially add to the strength of the tent and its cover by relieving the edges of the parts of the cover of strain, thus stiffening the tent where usually it has been weakest. Said ropes b b of each laced portion are or may be By means of the ropes b b on the edges of f the parts of the canvas cover I am enabled to put as many poles inside of the tent between the center and the side poles as there are sections, and to arrange them at equal distances apart. The same construction of lap S and arrangement of the lacing-line and of section or bracing ropes at the edges of the parts B B is adapted for the seam or junction of the cover at the ridge as has been described with reference to the seam or junction of the parts down the top from head to foot of the tent; and a single hook at either end of the ropes which run along either upper edge of the parts serve to unite the ends of B B, said ropes with the bail-rings g.

The lap or lap-lacing on the ridge of the ceni ter-piece B B is of great importance, inasmuch as it enables each half center-piece to "have a ridge-rope, one hook from each bail-ring being arranged-to take the eye of both ridge-ropes, to hold both parts or halves of the center-piece together.

When the two parts B B of the center-piece have more than one section, each of the ropes of said sections has eyes on its ends, arranged to run up and fasten to the ridge and foot rope on each half center-piece. The opposite eyes of each half center-piece tie together, making it likeone rope over the whole center-piece, and preventing any strain from coming on the lap-lacing, the section-ropes and the edge-ropes taking all the strain.

I claimv1. The combination of the separately-attached lap or overlapping piece S on the edge of either one part of the cover or awning, and having lacing-holes in it along or near its free edge, with the underlapping edge or portion of the adjacent part of the cover or awning or strip secured thereon, and the lacing-line or key f, arranged back of the edge of said underlapping portion, substantially as specified.

2. The section-ropes b b, secured along the edges of two meeting parts of the .cover or awning, and united at their opposite ends to the poles or supports of the tent, in combination with the lap or overlapping piece S and the lacing-line or key f, essentially as shown and described.

MAX n. KUNKELY.

Witnesses v FRED. HAYNES, EDWARD B. SPERRSZ. 

